BURNT RIVER: Home Extension Club
gathers over new quilts. PAGE 5
The
BUSINESS: Verizon’s proposed cell towers
denied. PAGE 3
Baker County Press
TheBakerCountyPress.com
75¢
All local. All relevant. Every Friday.
Friday, October 23, 2015 • Volume 2, Issue 43
Parents protest new
math curriculum
• SCHOOL BOARD
MEETING PACKS IN
A CROWD
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The room was full at the
5J District Building on
Tuesday evening for the
regular meeting.
“It’s is nice to see so
many here, taking an
interest in our children,”
said Board Chair Kevin
Cassidy.
But those packing the
room, sitting on the fl oor
and overfl owing into the
hall were there due to a hot
issue concerning the cur-
riculum.
That issue would not be
heard until after other busi-
ness. So, they waited.
The meeting began with
presentations to “Prom-
ise of Baker Student of
Month” winners from
Brooklyn and Baker High
School.
The recognized student
from Brooklyn was Mar-
quesa Peterson, nominated
by Kathy Mitchell who
said Marquesa was, “Al-
ways ready to learn. She
is a leader, a very caring
leader but not bossy, kind
and respectful.”
Baker High School rec-
ognized Morgan Scilacci.
Baker High School
Principal Ben Merrill said
“Marquesa and Morgan,
we’ve never had this many
people come to support the
promise of baker awards,
you guys are incredible!”
That was met with much
laughter from the crowd.
SEE PARENTS PROTEST
NEW MATH PAGE 10
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
It was standing- and sitting-room only at this
Tuesday’s 5J School Board meeting.
New K9 to arrive next week
Kerns will
not seek
re-election
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Photo courtesy of the BCPD.
During Offi cer Smith’s two-week training in Florida, Capa has been put through all the paces from his
original training, including how to alert on drugs properly. Capa displays a “passive alert,” meaning he sits
down and stairs at the source. Turbo had an “aggressive alert,” during which he dug at the source.
• OFFICER
COLETON SMITH
TO RETURN WITH
NEW K9 PARTNER
ON HALLOWEEN
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The decision to ap-
ply to become the Baker
City Police Department’s
(BCPD’s) new K9 handler
wasn’t one Offi cer Coleton
Smith took lightly.
Smith, who is in Florida
on a two-week training
program with the replace-
ment for former drug dog
Turbo, is glad he took the
leap.
“It’s a big commitment,”
Smith said. “In all our
emotional survival classes
we take, they talk about
how to not get burnt out
in your career, to try to
separate work from home.
The separation will be
impossible with the dog, so
I really wanted to be sure.”
As Smith pointed out,
“We’ll be on call 24/7. I’ll
take home the car. The dog
is always there with me.”
According to Baker City
Police Chief Wyn Lohner,
the new dog, Capa, is a
20-month-old German
Shepherd/Belgium Mali-
nois cross.
“He’s a real goofball. A
fi recracker!” Smith said.
Lohner said Smith was
able to meet Capa and pick
him out once he arrived at
Southern Coast K9, Inc.
in Florida. He said, “The
new dog had to have a high
talent for drug detection,
and be the kind of dog
comfortable being petted
by kindergartners.”
Smith concurred, and
requested those same
qualities.
SEE CAPA PAGE 5
Friday
Sunny and mild, highs near 60. Mostly clear at
night and cool with lows near 30.
Saturday
A mix of sun and clouds and cooler. Highs in the
upper 50s. Cloudy and not as cool at night with
lows near 35.
Sunday
Sunny and warmer. Highs near 60. A few clouds
at night, otherwise clear and cool. Lows near 30.
The Baker County Board of Commissioners met for its
second regular session of the month on Wednesday, at 9
a.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Baker County
Courthouse, with the notable announcement from Com-
missioner Tim Kerns that he will not seek another term.
Present from the Board were Commission Chair Bill
Harvey, Commissioners Mark Bennett and Tim Kerns,
and Executive Assistant Heidi Martin.
Also present were Baker County Road Master Jeff
Smith, Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash, Baker County
Undersheriff Warren Thompson, Baker County Assessor
Kerry Savage, Baker County Deputy Assessor Shawn
Berry, Baker County Technology Director Bill Lee, Baker
County Natural Resource Advisory Committee (NRAC)
Coordinator Eric Wuntz, Ed Hardt, Ken Anderson, Cyn-
thia Long, Tork and Wanda Ballard, and Bobbie Danser.
Upon calling the session to order, Harvey noted a
change to the order of recital of the Pledge of Allegiance
and Invocation, this time with the Invocation given fi rst.
The agenda was adopted, with a motion from Bennett,
and a second from Kerns.
During the Citizen Participation segment of the session,
Kerns said, “I’d like to announce that I will not run for
reelection. It will 15 ½ years by the time I fi nish my term
(by January of 2017). It should be plenty.”
Several attendees provided comments about different
topics during the same segment, including Forest Service
travel management plans and the Resilient Federal
Forests Act of 2015 from Long, road closure issues from
Ed and Wanda, and proposed national monuments issues
from Tork.
SEE COUNTY COMMISSION PAGE 5
Man cited in
dog attack
on alpaca
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Photo courtesy of the BCPD.
Offi cer Coleton Smith and Capa hit it off right away
in Florida this week.
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
On October 18 at about 9 p.m., Brian Marshall of
Sparta was issued a citation for having a dog as a public
nuisance. The citation came as a result of the lethal
attack on neighbor Lise Madson’s alpaca last week as
reported in The Baker County Press. Madson witnessed
three of Marshall’s dogs in a pack, mauling the animal,
and was able to shoot one dog in defense.
As of Friday the 16th, Marshall’s pitbulls were relo-
cated. According to Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash,
Marshall currently has one cow dog left at his Sparta
residence.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Wolf shot in Grant County
Huntington’s Homecoming
Blue Mtn. Forest Plan meetings
Sumpter Christmas planning
Lewis sworn in again on Council
Commissioners urge timber salvage
Page
Page
Page
Page
Page
Page
3
5
7
8
8
9